Washed Ashore

It’s been a long, long while since we last spoke — tell us more about what’s new with you!
Well, I moved on from working at a magazine to working in marketing — communications, PR. I wanted a different landscape but I still found myself useful in this area, which is good!

It’s been a good 13 years, actually. I’m so old now, way older than I look!

Well, we wouldn’t be able to guess your age if we tried! What is it that’s kept you in this field for so long?
I think you just get busy, and time passes really fast.

We feel you. If you could do anything else in the world, what would it be and why?
Well, right now, I also perform as a mermaid outside of my corporate job, so I’d say that.

Wow, how did you get started as a mermaid?
I’ve always loved swimming and scuba diving. And then I found the Singapore Mermaid School, which is led by the Singapore Mermaid, so I joined the school and started classes with them.

That’s so cool! Tell us more about what this experience has been like for you.
I enjoy it a lot! There are different levels of training and the friendships you make along the way are great. As for our mermaid tails, some are custom-made, while others are bought off the shelf.

We take it you love beaches and being outdoors then?
Being on a boat, yes. I absolutely love being on boats and islands. But I wouldn’t say I’m very outdoorsy. I think there’s a new term for people like me—outsidey. I’m outside for a while, but I need to go back in to recharge myself indoors.

Oh yeah, we’re outsidey people too. So tell us, what are some new things you’d like to try this year?
Oh, the same as every year—visit one or two new countries if I can.

Do you ever see yourself moving overseas or settling down elsewhere?
Definitely! The world is really big, so I wouldn’t say no. But I’d go wherever the Singapore dollar is stronger (laughs). Is that a practical answer?

So true! One last question: apart from mermaiding, what’s one thing most people wouldn’t know about you?
Oh, I very rarely wear black. I look really weird in black, so it’s rare for me to be in anything black.

Germaine was previously seen here.